Grateful

What if, today, we were grateful for everything? – Charlie Brown, Peanuts

2025 November

Later in November, we will be “grateful for everything” during Thanksgiving with friends and family. And because we consider you part of our family, we want to show how grateful we are for you.

We are grateful to everyone who has volunteered, sponsored events, or donated directly to the work of Orange County and Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities.

Both LATLC and OCTLC are “pass-through” non-profit organizations. What we raise is what we can give away. Nothing more. Nothing less. We are not only dependent upon you for the dollars we donate, but we depend on your time and commitment to making a difference in our communities.

This was especially true in 2025 – a year that began with the horrific Eaton and Palisades fires. Along with CAALA, we were able to raise $100,000. These funds were not only used for immediate provisions for families and first responders, but help continues today.

As you know, OCTLC and LATLC cannot donate directly to individuals, only through 501c3 organizations. Working with one of our partner charities, Exceptional Children’s Foundation, our fire funds paid for a $10,000 custom wheelchair for a young teen who lost his home, school, and ability to even get around. Your support made that possible.

OCTLC continues our work with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for low-income families and provide groceries to those in need with Second Harvest Food Bank as well as provide clothing and provisions to shelters such as Micah’s Way, Colette’s Children’s Home and Grandma’s House of Hope. In October OCTLC donated washers and dryers to several transitional homes run by Grandma’s House of Hope. OCTLC was thrilled to support and run a water station for the Triumph Foundation’s 5k in Irvine on September 13th and then filled Joy Jars for children in cancer treatment in Orange County Hospitals on October 14th alongside OCTLA.

Your time and resources make all this possible, and we are grateful.

On November 8, OCTLC and LATLC will again host THE GREAT TRYKE GIVEAWAY – where dozens of children with special needs receive custom adaptive tricycles, and we host a festive parade.

While the kids receive final adjustments to their new “trykes”, volunteers will assemble 1,000 toiletry kits for the U.S. Vets outreach program, a wonderful organization that provides supportive services for more than 800 veterans daily, including transitional and permanent housing, career development and long-term services. Their ADVANCE Women’s Program, the nation’s largest initiative for women veterans, focuses on the needs of female veterans and their children. We are grateful for all the volunteers who join us at this annual event in Long Beach. (If you are reading this before November 8, it is not too late to volunteer at https://www.latlc.org/volunteer-events.)

“Being grateful” does not need to end on November 27. The Tuesday following Thanksgiving is called #GivingTuesday and is more than just a day – it’s a celebration that showcases the spirit of giving around the world and is an excellent reminder of how important it is to give back to our communities.

Donate your time or resources on December 2 (#GivingTuesday) to OCTLC and LATLC – or find a favorite charity than means something special to you. Be grateful for what you have and share it with our community on this day.